Cox Communications employees have awarded a total of $50,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofits, through Cox Charities Community Investment Grants. The program provides employee funded grants of up to $5,000 to support a special program benefiting residents in the area. Earlier this year, organizations were invited to submit applications for funding. This year’s recipients of the Cox Charities Community Investment Grants are:
- Autism Pensacola – Funding will support Kids for Camp, a six-week summer program serving 75 children and teens with autism in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The program blends individualized instruction using ABA principles with enrichment activities to build communication, social, and life skills. Grant dollars will fund certified staff, data-driven progress tracking, peer buddy inclusion, and caregiver respite.
- Emerald Coast Autism Center – The grant will support the purchase of Vibe smartboards for ECLC classrooms, enhancing academic and vocational instruction for students with autism. These tools will help bridge gaps in learning by supporting individualized goals in language, social skills, and functional academics. Grant dollars will improve student engagement, track progress, and promote achievement throughout the 2025–26 school year, helping each learner reach their highest potential.
- Emerald Coast Science Center, Inc. – Grant funds will be used to support the development and delivery of 20 to 25 free Family Science Night events across Northwest Florida, reaching over 7,600 students and caregivers. Each event features 15 hands-on STEAM activity stations themed around “Nocturnal Nature,” promoting curiosity, learning, and family engagement.
- Gulf Coast Council, Scouting America – This Cox Charities grant will support STEAM education for 1,800 youth ages 5 to 18 in underserved Gulf Coast communities through STEM merit badges, mobile STEAM labs, monthly STEAM Saturdays, and mentorship from local professionals. Grant dollars will expand access to hands-on learning, track badge completions and event attendance, and foster long-term interest in STEM careers.
- Gulf Coast Kid’s House – This grant will help support the creation of a therapeutic garden at Gulf Coast Kid’s House, offering a healing space for children and families affected by trauma. Designed in partnership with Green Procedures, the garden will promote emotional wellness, sensory regulation, and environmental education. Grant dollars will help build a calming, inclusive space that supports therapy services, staff well-being, and future outreach for child abuse prevention.
- Gulfarium CARE Foundation – Funding will support the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of at least 150 sea turtles along Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2025. Grant dollars will be used for veterinary equipment, tanks, climate control systems, emergency response supplies, and care materials. Additionally, funds will support STEAM-based youth education programs reaching over 5,000 students, promoting marine conservation and sustainability.
- Institute for Human and Machine Cognition – IHMC offers Science Saturdays and Summer Robotics Camp at both its Pensacola and Ocala locations. The goal of Science Saturdays is to spark an interest in science among children, at an early enough age to influence educational outcomes. These events are fun and designed to complement science as taught schools. Science Saturdays create opportunities for hands-on participation and enjoyment — a hook, so to speak, that leads to increased enthusiasm for appreciating science topics in school.
- Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center – With this grant, the Center will host six inclusive STEAM workshops for up to 144 youth, including underserved and autistic participants, combining marine conservation education with ceramic art. Students will tour the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, meet a sea turtle ambassador, and create eco-friendly clay tokens and medallions. Grant dollars will promote environmental awareness, artistic expression, and sustainability, while replacing plastic scavenger hunt tokens and supporting nonprofit operations through medallion sales.
- S4P Synergy, Inc. – Funding will support a Back to School Bash serving 400 underserved individuals with free school physicals, supplies, clothing, food, and family-friendly activities. The event will also offer cybersecurity training for parents and access to health and insurance resources.
- The Seaside School – The Dream Big STEAM Leaders Program is designed to expand STEM opportunities by doubling student participation in robotics, drones, and Weather STEM activities, while increasing enrollment among female and underrepresented students. The program will also integrate virtual reality and 3D printing to foster innovation and collaboration skills. In addition to STEM, the initiative will launch and grow a theatre program that offers daily instruction and after-school productions, helping students build communication, creativity, confidence, and collaboration, while uncovering hidden strengths and talents.
“We are incredibly grateful to Cox for supporting our Family Science Night program. This grant will allow the Emerald Coast Science Center to bring even more hands-on STEM learning opportunities directly into schools, reaching thousands of students and families across our region,” said Kate Fox, development coordinator of the Emerald Coast Science Center. “Family Science Night is unique in that it not only sparks curiosity in science, but also brings families together to learn, explore, and problem-solve side by side. With Cox’s support, we can continue breaking down barriers to access and help schools provide engaging, real-world experiences that inspire the next generation of innovators.”
Cox Charities is a charitable giving initiative of Cox Communications fully funded by Cox employees and business partners. The funds raised are then invested annually as Cox Charities Community Investment Grants to organizations that align with our focus areas of youth innovation programs focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM); conservation and sustainability initiatives; and equal opportunity. A total of $315,000 is being awarded to 63 grant recipients throughout Cox’s East Region.
“Supporting our community isn’t just part of our job, it’s who we are at Cox. Whether it’s our employees giving money from their own pockets to fund these local nonprofit grants, or rolling up our sleeves to volunteer, our team shows up with heart and purpose,” said David Deliman, Cox Gulf Coast market vice president. “This community means a lot to us, and I’m incredibly proud of how our employees continue to make a real difference every day.”
For more information about Cox Charities, visit www.CoxCharitiesNE.org.